The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-23
eNGLAND'S COLONIES.
How the Foreign Dependencies of the
British Crown Are Governed.

1
British Crown Are Governed.
The most powerful and prosperous of
England's foreign possessions have
become what we now see them within
a century. India snd Canada, indeed.
were already in British hands hun
dred years ago; but they were then in
significant in wealth and power, COM
pared to what they now are. 1t is Just
about a century since Australia, in
many resp actS the most int resting of
England 5 colonies. fell into her hands,
but the vast resources of that CONT
nent have only been utilized within the
past forty years. At first, the English
used Australia solely as n remote place
to which she could send, and where She
could safely keep, her criminals. Botany
Bay, for more than fifty years, was IL
convict settleme nt, where the felons
convicted of crime worked in gangs
and in chains, instead of being kept in
prison at home. But after awhile hon
est settlers made their appearance in
Australia, and about fifty years ago
convicts from the British iails ceased to-
be sent to Botany Bay. 1t was in 1851
that the first trace of the marvellous
wealth which lay hidden in the interior
was found. One day native, with
his weapon, was scraping away some
grass, when he came upon a great
nugget of gold
The total European population of
Australia, ut the time this startling dis
! coyery was made, was only fifty thou
sand; in single year thereafter two
hundred and fifty thousand persons
swarmed across the oceans, to seek for
the gold harvest which opened before
them. Then it became gradually
known that Australia had other treas
ures besides gold Coal, copper and
tin were found in large quantities; and
the fertile lands beyond the ranges of
hills that encircled the coast afforded
fine grazing grounds for sheep, and
yielded plentiful crops of wheat and
other cereals. Australia now contains
five great English colonies, with rs
many governments; and the European
population of the island is at least
three millions. The governments of
these colonies, though they are pre-
sided over by Governors appointed by
the English crown. are practically free
and much resemble that of the hor.e
kingdom.
Another English colony of which we
hear great deal, is that planted at
the Cape of Good Hope, which is called
the Cape Colony" 1t came finally
into the hands of England early in tho
present century. The colonies of South
Africa have total European popula-
ton of Il little over million. The
British domain in that quarter is con-
stantly being enlarged by the anncxa-
ton Of nei%hboring States and districts.
The government of the Cape Colony re-
sembles the governments of Australia
and comprises II Parliament of two
Houses chosen by the colonists.
The English colonies. as to their gov
erument, are of three kinds. The first
are called Grown colonies" and arc
ruled entirely by the Governor, who is
appointed by the crown. OF these the
most conspicuous is India The second
class comprises colonies which have
representative institutions, but are not
wholly sclf-governipg, This is the case
with Malta, Ceyl on, Cyprus. the Bahia
mas and Barbados, and other smaIt
colonies, The third are the self gov
erned colonies, of which the Australian,
Canadian. and Cape colonies are the
chief examples.
The relations between England and
her many dependencies, except India.
are under the direction of Il member of
the Cabinet who is called The Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies" Tho
affairs of India are entrusted to de-
partment by itself, under the direction
of the Secretary of State for India"
1t can not dc forescen how long these
great, thriving colonies will be content
to remain under the scepter of England.
The mother country is proud of them.
and undoubtedly desires to retain her
connection with them. Yet if any one
of them should desire to sever it, and
become completely independent, it is
not likely that that desire would DO
strenuously resisted. : Youths Conpall-
ion